1. W e can talk about gross calls and not be phased by it.

We’ve all been thrown up on at least once in our career, we’ve smelt the worst smells you could imagine. When you tell us about your “gross” problems we won’t make faces instead we’re probably amused.

2. We have our own language.

10 codes, stretcher, reeves sleeve, stabilize.

3. We learn how to be desensitized to tragedy.

That’s the sad part of the business we’re in, once you see enough tragedy you learn how to block it out.

4. When we say we have a work spouse we aren’t joking.

We spend so much time together we might as well be married

5. We all have hopes of having a call at 123 Main Street.

If you’ve ever read a text book for first responders, the generic address is always 123 Main Street, after you’ve read it enough you secretly have the hope of getting a call there.

6. We refuse to take our family members to the doctor or hospital unless they are dying.

We try to fix everything. Broken arm, pneumonia, fever; we try to fix it.

7. When you here a beeping noise you look for your pager—even when it's not with you.

You wait to hear the tones drop after any beeping noise, it's now an instinct.

8. You hear air pack noises as you’re laying in bed.

After a long day at the training academy and hearing air pack alarm after air pack alarm, you will lay in bed and hear it replay in your head over and over.

9. You can tell the difference between the siren on a cop car, ambulance and firetruck.

There is a difference. No matter what you say, it's not just a siren.

10. When you hear the siren you automatically look for it.

You know exactly what direction it’s coming from and what type of vehicle it is.

11. We feel uncomfortable meeting new people

Not that we don’t want to, but when the comment of what we do for a career comes up, it usually results in someone calling us a hero or asking us a plethora of questions.

12. On a call doesn’t mean we’re on the phone

We’re saving a life, not talking on the phone.

13. No matter how many fire department tee shirts we have, we will always buy more

Every single fire house we pass we will buy a shirt, we will leave a vacation with at least two new fire department tee shirts. Guaranteed.

14. No matter where you are in life, your station will always be home and your co-workers will always be your family.

You will always remember your roots.